//------------------------------// // Where there is Light, the Dark will strike // Story: The Greatest Treasure // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// Death. To most beings, it is a definite state. Once done, it can’t be undone. So, it is natural they fear it. They will do everything in their power to use whatever moments they can to avoid their fate. Some can be successful, but most are silenced in their vain attempts. It can be gruesome, or pleasant. All that and more drives the beings of this world to define themselves and make their existences have meaning. I find them all laughable as well as sickening. Death has no claim over one such as I. I find their ‘meaning’ to be utterly ridiculous. They live frivolous, wasteful lives without any real purpose. They meander, they crawl, they try to eek out a piece of the world for themselves. They are frail, worthless things. They can’t even rule themselves without eventually breaking down. They need guidance. They need a leader. Someone far and above them in every respect. I tried to be that leader. I tried to lead the people of Middle Earth into a better tomorrow, but what did I receive in thanks? Retaliation. Rebellion. Murder. They slew me! They cast away my rightful rule and for what? For freedom? I would laugh if I still had lungs. No, they don’t have freedom. Only I could give them freedom. Freedom from ‘choice’ and ‘fate’. They would finally have meaning. They should thank me and embrace my ideals. So, here I am. Nothing, less than nothing. I am a shadow, a pale imitation of my former glory. They think they beat me. They think I can’t return, so they celebrate. They forget me, but all they are doing is ensuring their defeat at my hands. My ascendance was never in question. My return to the bonds of the mortal plane was as fact as the changing of the seasons. I am a force of this world. It needs me, whether they want it or not. I let them have peace. I let them hope and be merry in my absence. I want to wipe away their smiles. I want to break their gleeful souls into pieces and burn their frolicking bodies into ash. My revenge is certain. Their doom is written in the annals of history. Their ignorance is a joke I will share when the time is right. My plan is already in motion. The white mage already turns his ear to me and my orcs grow in numbers. I will not make the same mistake twice. I will never again let the ‘free’ people of Middle Earth unite. They will bicker and squabble. They must. I need them divided. I want them to be alone and helpless as I slaughter them to the last child. Thankfully, they did that job for me, but I need to be sure. Even the Elves hide agents of mine. Their noses, which they hold so high in the sky, will never come down to see the killing blow. The race of man is weak and pitiful that I ponder to myself if I could have done a better job. It was their ring bearers that had joined me, not the others. Man was such a fun race. I almost didn’t want to destroy it. Almost. The dwarves were a race I concerned myself with however. Their keeps and cities were almost impregnable. The filthy tunnelers kept to themselves, so their ranks would be swelled when the time came to attack them. They would put up a fierce resistance and it could take years to slay them all. I had years to spare, so their resistance, while annoying, would prove fruitless. The only thing I needed to secure my victory was my ring. It held a part of me. It held my power, my source of rebirth. I needed to have it. ‘In hindsight, perhaps casting a piece of my soul into an object so easily hid wasn’t the greatest of choices.’ I couldn’t do anything to change that now. The Nazgûl could track it down with ease, but I couldn’t send them out yet. The people of Middle Earth would begin to suspect something was amiss. No, I had to rely on orcs and goblins and other such lowly creatures. I feel ashamed of what I have resorted to. Yet, I was content to sit and wait. There was nothing that could best….No. For an instant, I had sensed something. Something powerful, something ancient, something…I had not sensed in such a long time. It was as bright as the sun and just as fierce. It tore at the shadows and I had to fight to control the pain, even from this great of a distance. It was holy magic, among the most pure I had ever felt. It reminded me of my kin. No, it reminded me of something greater? Something akin to my master……’How could they be here?!! Why now?’  It had been centuries since I have been filled with such rage and curiosity. It felt like a Valar, but it wasn’t like any of them. It was different. Of course, it didn’t matter if that was so. It needed to be dealt with. To my dismay, I knew where to find it: Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. The resting place of Smaug. Dragons were incredibly unruly creatures. To a certain point, I only could keep a handful of them loyal. The rest were content to squabble and bicker like men. The miserable wretches thought me unworthy of ruling. They did not respect me like they did my master. They disobeyed my orders, they killed and plundered my armies. No matter how many I killed, they still didn’t listen. Even as I smashed their wings and bent their backs, they remained defiant. They were my master’s greatest mistake. Now, a dragon housed a Valar. I didn’t know why. Perhaps it was taking pleasure in their death as I felt the Valar’s life force fade. That is, until it made a swift recovery. It was no way on par with that surge I had felt so long ago, but it meant that the dragon was helping it. I had been content on sitting idly by and watch the Valar die. I couldn’t afford to do that anymore. A shame, really. I had thought to try and recruit him. I may hate his kind, but they still made excellent weapons. Pity. No matter, he was good as dead. I still had creatures strong enough on their own to kill dragons. The dwarves should think twice to dig so deep into the earth. They can never tell what they’re going to find. With a simple push of my mind, I touched it. I felt the fire rage and darkness stir and a roar that could shatter bone. Its purpose was clear and all it needed was my order. “Cleanse the mountain.” ___________________________________________________________________________________ *Celestia* For a moment, I really thought I had somehow found an actually intelligent civilization of Diamond Dogs. Not to be offensive, but Diamond Dogs aren’t…smart in any real regard. Actually, that sounded offensive. I have met many amiable Dogs in my life, some of them even holding very memorable discussions with myself. It’s just that, they were always simple. They liked to keep it that way. Their constructs and tunnels showed that. They could be extensive and vast, but they were always crude. They just needed to serve a purpose. Anything beyond that was unnecessary in their eyes. This city was nothing like the simplistic designs of the dogs. No, it was something far grander and much more aesthetically pleasing. The sheer effort and craftsponyship to make something of this scale and with this level of detail was daunting to say the least. My ponies, while adoring the art of construction, liked to keep to a mold. Most of the cities, while grand, were similar. In a way, we were like the dogs. Still, we had exceptions such as Canterlot. ‘I would love to meet the species that built this place. Perhaps I could set up a trade of goods, or at least a few drawn up plans and schematics.’ While I would say Canterlot was far better to look at, it wouldn’t be fair. For one, Canterlot was in pristine condition, while this place looked like it was rotting. It felt dead. Even the air itself stunk of it. A part of me already knew that it was not the stench of the city, but of its former inhabitants. That part of me wanted to hate Smaug. It wanted me to slay him where he stood. I didn’t listen to it. Dark thoughts such as that are ill becoming. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind as the saying goes. I couldn’t change the past. The only thing I could do was ensure a brighter future. Smaug could be brought to his senses. Such a task wasn’t so farfetched, if I took in Fluttershy’s work with Discord and my own with my sister. I just needed to make a breakthrough. Nothing major, just something to gain his trust. That was easier said than done when talking about a dragon. Their species was never a trusting one. As I walked the halls, my little friend Thrush would often speak up. Most of the time it was to tell me little snidbits of information, like he was my tour guide. They were never that long or that detailed, so it was as clear as crystal that he barely knew anything about the mountain city. Needling out clues from the bird was much harder for it. Still, he would always steer me away from certain areas. He was insistent that they were in such poor shape that a simple noise could cause a cave-in. He was a poor liar, but I complied. I simply took note of every ‘condemned’ passageway. I never forget anything. ‘Not even ‘that’. I really don’t want to know where Discord got that idea from and I don’t want to go through it again.’ Scarring memories aside, I had a lot on my plate as it were. Whether he intended to or not, Thrush was taking me around in circles. He was either stringing me along, or just a terrible guide. Either way, I’m sure he’d rather be outside as would I. “So, are you liking your new home?” Thrush asked. He was perched keenly in my mane as Philomena would have done in her early years. I…I miss Philomena….’No, don’t drag yourself down now. You need to keep a clear head if you’re going to get out of here.’ I nodded slightly. “Yes. I am honored live under Smaug’s mountain. He is the most generous dragon I have ever met.” The two of us had entered the dwarves’ smithing room and it was glorious. Great cauldrons stood at attention, little carved tunnels that would have been rivers of gold and other minerals had this place been in operation. It was magnificent, even in such a state of ruin. Oh, how I so wanted to meet these dwarves. My ponies would learn so much from them. The dwarves smiths were masterminds. Their jewels were so well crafted, that my best smiths would cry in shame if they compared their own work to it. “….Really?” “Why would I lie to you, dear Thrush? You are Smaug’s eyes and ears. To tell you an untruth is to invite dismay upon myself. Am I wrong?” Thrush caught on to what I was really saying and sighed. “You are indeed as clever as the master.” The little seemed to shift uneasily on my head. “I am sorry if he has mistreated you. He is not the nicest of creatures.” “I beg to differ,” I corrected the small bird, shaking my head slightly. “He is among the nicest of dragons I have ever met.” “Truly?” I nodded. “Truly. If he were any other dragon, he would have eaten me. When we argued or when I threatened to destroy that accursed Arkenstone, a regular dragon would have burned me alive for even thinking about it. I am truly thankful I did not land in the horde of another dragon.” “Even if he keeps you locked inside?” “He is just being cautious,” my ears quirked about as I heard something. Ponies had great senses of hearing and Alicorns were even greater in that regard. Softly, I could hear the sound of claws clacking against the ground, very heavy claws. I paid them no mind for the moment. “Caution is one thing. Slavery is another.” “Yet, I wear no chain or head no orders. I am no slave, little one. I am a jewel. I am something to look at and fawn over, but kept within his grasp. Freedom is something neither the slave or the jewel possess, but the jewel is ‘comfortable’, whereas the slave is not. For the most part, Smaug has been a wonderful host. Perhaps I could call him a friend if he wished it.” “A friend?” Thrush laughed. “My master wishes not for a friend, but for loneliness. He hates everything with such a passion that he could light the world on fire with his mind alone. Friendship is the last thing he wants.” “But he needs it,” I snorted. “Smaug’s heart is sick with hatred. You can’t survive on it. Hate makes you stupid and blind. It corrupts you, tortures you, and leaves you a hollow husk. Smaug is better than that. All living things are better than that and if he does not turn away from hatred, it will kill him.” I had seen it destroy many creatures, including my beloved ponies. It was a sick and depraved process and I still weep for the lost souls. Some of them…I could have saved…I should have saved. ‘Sombra, I….’ NO! Don’t think about that. Don’t ever think about that again. “I am wounded, Celestia.” A deep, familiar voice spoke up. Low and behold, Smaug turned the corner. “To think a fickle emotion such as hatred could fell one such as I? I would laugh if I was not insulted by your insinuation.” “Insulting you was not my intention,” I countered. “It was merely a warning. I pray you take heed.” “Friendship?” Smaug seemed confused. “You think this thing called ‘friendship’ can keep me alive? Tell me, did I need friendship to take this mountain? Did I need friendship to slay the dwarvish army that hurled themselves at me by the droves? Did I survive the black arrows thrown at my beautiful scales because of friendship? No, all that and more was fueled by my greed and by my hatred. I am death. I am fire. Neither of which needs anything more to fuel them. Maybe the pitiful dragons from your world are so weak they can’t utilize hatred, but I am strong because of it.” “No, you are weak Smaug. You are weak because you rely on it. What happens when it’s not enough? When you’re all alone, against the world? Do you think that you can keep yourself going on mere hate and greed?” “Yes.” “Then you are a fool.” Smaug snarled. The large dragon was nearly upon me in seconds. His snout mere inches from my own. “Do you think that just because you’re my jewel, I will tolerate such talk? I have been lenient with you. I have given you the honor to be amongst my gold. Yet, you still persist to insult me to my very face.” “I say again, I mean no insult,” my face softened. “I wish merely to ensure your survival.” Smaug tilted his head in curiosity. “My survival? Why should you care? I am not stupid. I know you must hate me for keeping you here.” “No, you aren’t stupid. You’re merely acting like you always have,” I gently nuzzled his snout and he pulled away. He looked surprised by my action, but said nothing. “Greed is a driving force for you dragons. There is no denying that, but you can work past it. Why, back home I had the pleasure to know a young drake who broke free from his greed. He lives amongst us in peace.” “Disgusting,” Smaug shook his head. “Peace is an illusion. He is a dragon. He can’t live amongst the other races forever. He will one day strike and you will pay for trusting him. It is his nature to kill, to devour, to conquer. He can’t fight it. It will consume him one day, mark my words, Celestia.” “Again, you are wrong.” I shook my head and let out a tired, sad sigh. Getting anything through his thick skull was going to take some time. Thankfully, I was a patient mare. “I am never wrong,” Smaug snorted, blowing jets of hot steam across me and Thrush. Luckily for the small bird, he was deep within my mane so he had a good enough grip. “But I see there is no point in continuing this conversation. You will not see reason.” “Nor will you,” I smirked. Smaug opened his mouth to say something, but it was cut off when something smashed into his side.